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District of South Carolina

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Justice News

Kingstree Man Sentenced on Weapons Charge

Contact Person: Lance Crick (864) 282-2105

Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Brian Burgess, age 41, from Kingstree was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Florence, South Carolina, for Possession of a Stolen Firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(j). United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell of Florence sentenced Burgess to 108 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised released.

Evidence presented at the change of plea on November 28, 2016 and sentencing hearing established that on November 4, 2015, officers with the Myrtle Beach Police Department (MBPD) responded to a hotel in Myrtle Beach as part of a heroin overdose investigation. MBPD searched a room in the hotel pursuant to a search warrant. Burgess and several others were inside the room. A stolen 9mm firearm was located in the hotel room. Burgess claimed possession of the pistol. Burgess was previously convicted of a felony offense and prohibited from possessing a firearm.

The case was investigated by agents of the Myrtle Beach Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher D. Taylor of the Florence office prosecuted the case.